深度困惑中﹐ 到底應不應該放棄﹖

大家好﹐希望各位NN們給我一點建議﹕

我現在澳洲一個TOP大學讀FINANCE 的博士﹐ 有全獎﹐ 導師是某二流偏上國際金融刊物的主編﹐當初也是看中這點跟他讀。其實也知道他有一點務虛﹐主要強在人脈﹐他本人做為唯一作者的文章幾乎沒有數量分析。本來以為跟着他可以好發文章﹐數量的東西可以自己加強。可他卻堅持要我作他的方向﹐是國際公司治理﹐ 公司結構的方向。我對這塊實在沒什麼興趣﹐如果做下去估計也不會有多大出息。

另外我也擔心畢業以後的去向﹐因為做這個方向的在澳洲好像很難拿GRANT。最近導師的一個學生畢業後去了一個小城鎮的大學﹐我很擔心自己以後不能留在悉尼的某個大學里。而且這個方向﹐作INDUSTRY 的機會幾乎沒有。

我本人的背景是這樣的﹕

本科﹕東北財經大學經濟學學士﹐平均分為87/100。 (不知道GPA怎麼算)。

澳洲TOP大學的會計碩士﹐成績不好﹐只有70/100。 另外還讀了一個學期的會計RESEARCH﹐ 實在沒興趣就放棄了﹐成績也不好﹐ 66/100。 看來自己不是讀會計這快料。

後來又讀了同樣學校的FINANCE 碩士﹐ 成績大幅度提高﹐ 88/100。

還有一個APPLIED MATHEMATICS 的研究生文憑 (一共修了十門課)﹐ 平均分為85/100﹐ 課程基本上涵蓋了所有金融博士需要的數理基礎。

GMAT﹕760

沒有任何發表的學術成果。

W/E﹕六年教學經驗﹐其中包括在悉尼一個末流大學做四年全職講師的經驗。口語很不錯﹐應該不會有任何交流問題。

現在正在考慮是不是要放棄現在這個金融博士﹐然後申請美國。有幾點擔心﹕

1。大家覺得我放棄一個做主編的導師和全獎是不是太可惜﹖ 我們學校的金融雖然放在美國進不了前100名﹐但在澳洲能排第一了。

2。基於我的背景﹐如果申請美國TOP-50商學院的金融博士﹐成功的可能性有多大﹖我十分渴望能到美國接受一流的金融教育﹐覺得現在這樣混有點太平庸。知道申請TOP20 的可能性很小﹐主要定位在30-50之間的學校﹐打算用兩三個50-70的學校保底。大家覺得這樣的定位是否合理﹖

3。我擔心我糟糕的會計成績﹐還有兩次放棄RESEARCH 的記錄(包括短暫的那次會計RESEARCH) ﹐ 會給申請帶來負面影響。 我應該如何解釋呢﹖ 雖然我申請的是金融博士﹐會計成績是不是也會有影響﹖

今年已經32歲了﹐ 知道歲月不饒人﹐十分渴望能拿一個美國TOP 50 的金融博士。 經常在CD 上面潛水﹐知道這裡牛人眾多﹐ 能請各位給點建議嗎﹖ 多謝。

I agree with sm1. Age is not a problem. I've seen many people start their PhD studies in their 30s (including myself).

also, I think your background is good enough. Just be sure to explain why you want to transfer to a U.S. school in your statements/proposals when you apply.

I'm a little confused here. You are 32. You have myriad of life experiences and you should know much better than all of the young people here what you really want to do in your life. If a phd in US is really your dream, then just go for it. Your background is complex, but definitely not bad. To be honest, I don't think top schools will prefer your background, as all what I can get from your former study and research is that you do not have strong determination of maintaining your research concentraion. Sorry, that's just my feeling. If you do plan to apply for some US universities at this moment, make sure to provide some better explanations in your personal statement about all those unexpeted changes in your past academic life. After all, good luck and keep being optimistic and confident!!

Thanks everyone. I also agree that age should not stop me chasing my dream.

Do you guys think I can make a top 30-70 b-school in US, based on my background? Will I get a decent faculty position in US if I am a Phd from a 50-70 b-school?

I konw the main problem for me is, as "maybealways" commented: lack of determination and maintenance of research concentration. How do you think I can explain that? Is it wise to elaborate in details on it in my p/s? Do I need to explain why I got poor results from Accounting studies?

I know I might be asking some silly questions. But please, if possible at all, give me some suggestions, greatly appreciated!

Thanks a lot. I plan to apply for US schools now.

Any eqaully good schools in Canada in finance, say UBC, Toronto, UWO? Is there any chance to get a faculty position in US good schools?